The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-06-30

Scnator?"
"Lct us suppose Il case here in Rich
mond county. Suppose, for instance,
that a majority Of our people should
combine together to deprive tho Quak-
ers, or tho Catholics, or any other re-
llgiouS sect or denomination, Of tho
right to worship occording to their re-
llglous toncts and forms; denied them
tho freedom OF speech and the right Of
assembling, and the State took no ac-
ton, the general government would have
no right to interfere and protect them
i'll their rights"
"But would it not be the duty of the
State to protect them?"
"Undoubtcdly. But suppose the
State should not discharge that duty.
No appeal would lie to the general GOV
ornmont. 1t could not interfere unless
the matter should rise to the height of Il
rebellion against the laws Of tho United
States or an invasion of its territory fer
hostile purpose. a community may
bo Ill rebellion against tho laws of u
State, but the general government can
not interfere to crush out that rebellion
unless tho State government invokes its
aid and assistance"
GLOW, then, would you remove the
wrongs which you claim exist in Dor.
tons of the South, and how would you
prevent the suppression of the ballot,
which you claim is supprcsscd?"
81 would propose u remedy, but ]
doubt whether the Republican, party
would como up to it."
"What is that, Scnator?"
81 would have Congress enact law
fixing the time, manner and circum
stances Of clecting members of Con
gress, defining and providing for tho
rights of every citizen at such m cleo
ton, and putting it wholly with the gov
ernmcnt for the conduct and regulation
OF Congressional elections. In other
words, the cntiro supervision of the cleo
ton OF members of Congress should be
with tho United States government"
"But is there any warrant for that in
the constitutions"
"ClcNrly; that principle has been de-
clded 10y tho courts on several occasions,
and the Supromo Court has laid down
the doctrine uncQuivOCally, and its de-
clSions arc IN the limo of its establish
mcnt. With such statute enforced,
there could be no abridgcmcnt Of tho
clccllVG trAnchlSc, no suppression of bal
lots III elections concerning the interests
OF government. Thea, if communities,
or even States, should attempt to de
prlvo citizens of their rights Of franchise.
the government could lawfully interfere,
put an end to it and rchnhilitatc every
citizen. With tLc right Of every citizen
to cast his vOt" and have it counted for
members OF Congress and electors for
President clearly established and en-
torccd, the Snlun right at State and local
elections would soon force itself, al
though there WouIJ be no government
Interfere! CO."
"Incn you would nave the same law
apply IN th" choice Of Presidential cleo
tors that applied in the election of mem
bcrS OF Congrcs9?"
"Certainly, and why not?"
"Do you think, Senator, that CONGRESS-
VIII Dc called III extraordinary session ?"
'Lhat is hard to tell, but | should not
be surprised. It is true that if the
President should cnll IN extra session of
Congress il would be Il reflection uD0n
himself, bat the financial condition of
the country demands IN carly assem-
bling Of Congress. "
GLOW would Congress improve thc
financial situation?"
"By reducing taxation and preventing
plus III the treasury. If we go ut the
rate OF accommodating over $lOO, OOO, 900
annually OF useless and unnecessary
revenue, and locking it up in the trcas,t
ry, all our industrial and commercial in
tercSts will be jcOpurdizCd."
"}ut how can taxation be rcduccd?"
''By Il revision Of the tariff and modi-
ilcatlon of the internal revenue laws"
"Will there be II revision and modif
cation OF the tariff laws?"
"Ihcrc will doubtless be Il reduction
on numerous itums."
''Whcrc do you think the reduction
should be applied?"
81 think that there should be q de-
cldcd reduction i'll the tariff on sugar,
and then bounty should be paid on
American sugar sufficiently generous to
secure the production Of all the sugar in
the United States that our people may
consume. We have the best soil in the
world for the sugar beet and sorghum
cane, covering almost limitIcss areas,
and we have larger area adapted t. the
cultivation Of West India cane as in
Louisiana. We ought to produce nll the
sugar we consume, and We may readily
do so by iudiCious tariff and Iibertl
bountics to producers.